State of California
Governor's Office of Planning and Research

Sources: An Annotated Bibliography for California Planners

California Planning

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A Guide to Planning in California (1988); $3.00 from the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, 1400 Tenth St., Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 322-3170. Available on the Internet at http://ceres.ca.gov/planning/.
          This short booklet is an introductory guide to land use planning as practiced in California. It describes, in common language, the general plan, zoning subdivisions, annexation and incorporation, and the California Environmental Quality Act. In addition, it includes a glossary of common planning terms and useful references.

Bridging the Gap: Using Findings in Local Land Use Decisions, 2nd edition (March 1989); $9.00 from the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, 1400 Tenth St., Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 322-3170. Available on the Internet at http://ceres.ca.gov/planning/
          This popular booklet outlines what findings are, why they are necessary, and when local agencies should prepare them. It also suggests guidelines for preparing findings based on principles founded in case law. Included in the second edition is an expanded table listing the types of land use decisions requiring findings, examples of staff reports showing how findings are used, and an index of statutes requiring local findings.

California Land-use and Planning Law, 1997 edition; by Daniel J. Curtin, Jr.; $47 plus tax and shipping from Solano Press, P.O. Box 773, Point Arena, CA 95468, (707) 884-4508.
          This manual provides a summary of the major provisions of land use planning law and related procedural law such as zoning and CEQA. It includes recent California and federal court decisions and opinions of the California Attorney General. The laws regarding initiatives and development exactions are also discussed.

Element Consolidation (1987); $3.00 from the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, 1400 Tenth St., Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 322-3170.
          This advisory memo supplements the 1987 General Plan Guidelines. It provides additional information on general plan formats that consolidate two or more of the seven statutory elements.

Formatting the General Plan; $3.00 from Zucker Systems, 9909 Huennekens St., Suite 120, San Diego, CA 92121, (916) 457-0277.
          Choosing a suitable format for your general plan is an important part of preparing the plan. This booklet offers no-nonsense advice on a clear and easy to use format.

General Plan Guidelines (PDF: 1000K), 1998 edition; by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research; $16.00 per copy from General Services, Publications Section, P.O. Box 1015, North Highlands, CA 95660, (916) 574-2200 (stock no. 7540-931-1030-0). Available on the Internet at http://ceres.ca.gov/planning/.
          This advisory guide is the State's only official document interpreting and explaining California's legal requirements for general plans. It is used as a guide for local planners preparing general plans and as a general reference by other local government officials and community members who may have less with planning theory, practice, and land use law.

Guide to California Planning (1991); by William Fulton; $30.00 plus sales tax and shipping from Solano Press, P.O. Box 773, Point Arena, CA 95468, (707) 884-4508.
          This is a lively, well-written discussion of nearly every aspect of planning in the state.

LAFCOs, General Plans, and City Annexations (1997); $3.00 from the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, 1400 Tenth St., Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 322-3170. Available on the Internet at http://ceres.ca.gov/planning/.
          This advisory memo discusses how local general plans should address annexations and how they can assist a LAFCO in its deliberations.

Longtin's California Land Use, 2nd edition (1987); $160 plus tax from Local Government Publications, P.O. Box 306, Malibu, CA 90265.
          This reference text contains an objective analysis of current land use statutes and case law. It addresses such subjects as planning, zoning, subdivisions, sign controls, exactions, LAFCO activities, coastal planning, and legal requirements.

Planning, Zoning, and Development Laws, 1997 Edition; published by Governor's Office of Planning and Research; $18.00 from General Services, Publications Section, P.O. Box 1015, North Highlands, CA 95660, (916) 574-2200 (stock no: 7540-931-1016). Available on the Internet at http://ceres.ca.gov/planning/.
          This is a compendium of planning-related state laws, published yearly. It contains the general plan, zoning, subdivision map act, and other codes.

Preemption of Local Land Use Authority in California (1989); $9.00 from the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, 1400 Tenth St., Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 322-3170. Available on the Internet at http://ceres.ca.gov/planning/.
          This publication is intended as a quick and easy to understand reference tool that explains the basics of land use preemptions in California: what they are, why they are important to planners and local decision makers, and how they are created. OPR prepared this document due to the growing quantity and complexity of statute and case law affecting preemptions of local land use authority. The document also includes a lengthy compendium of existing land use preemptions founded in statutory and case law.

Specific Plans in the Golden State (1988); $9.00 from the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, 1400 Tenth St., Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 322-3170. Available on the Internet at http://ceres.ca.gov/planning/.
          This is and in-depth report on specific plans in California. It features guidelines for preparing and adopting specific plans, including an annotated model specific plan outline. It discusses pertinent statutory and case law, specific plan implementation measures, fees, and the relationships of specific plans to other local planning tools such as the general plan and zoning ordinance.

"Why Plan: A Primer for the Concerned Citizen" (Pappas Telecommunications, Fresno, CA), 1987, 30 minute videotape (available for purchase from the League of California Cities (916) 444-5790).
          This videotape is an introduction to planning -- its purposes and products.